Unique knee injury jeopardizes tackle''s care

Texans rookie Charles Spencer has a metal plate and about eight screws in his knee. The fracturethat ended his season after just two starts has healed.

That doesn''t mean the Texans will have their starting left offensive tackle back any time soon, though. In fact, what appeared to be a bright NFL future for Spencer is now in question because of cartilage around his knee that was damaged as a result of the injury.

"It''s certainly an injury that threatens a guy''s career, especially a guy like Spencer," said Dr. Walter Lowe, the team physician who performed Spencer''s surgery Sept. 18. Among the 17 players who landed on injured reserve this season, Spencer has the injury — a fracture of the tibial plateau — that most concerns the Texans.